Now, I had some reason to believe that Mara had written the first note, as she seemed the only possible person to warn us of the plots of her kin, and that was a very plain warning to Owen rather than to myself, as it seemed.  So I thought this might come from the same hand, and be meant for him also, and that all the more that there was not a stranger left in Glastonbury, now that the feasting was over, much less a Welshman.  But Owen had none but Welsh round him, and it seemed to say that there was some plot among them again.  Maybe he would know who was meant by the “Briton.”  Men have nicknames that seem foolish to any but those who are in the jest of them.  We used to call Erpwald the “Saxon” sometimes, because he was not of Wessex, although we were as much Saxon as he, or more so, according to our own pride.

I went straight down the street to the house of a man whom I knew well, an honest franklin who had a good horse and knew the border country from end to end, and I bade him ride with all speed to Owen at Norton with the paper.  He was to give it into his own hand, and I made shift to scrawl a few words on the outside of it that he might shew to my friend the captain of the guard, and so win speedier entry to the palace.  I did not send one of my own men, because he would have been known as coming from me, while this man was often in Norton about cattle and the like, and none would wonder at seeing him.

I was easier when I saw him mount and ride away, but I was ill content until the morning came and brought him back with tidings that all was well, and that Owen would be on his guard.

Also, the franklin was to tell me that Gerent’s court went to Isca, which we call Exeter, in two days’ time, and that Owen would fain see me before he went westward, if I could come to him.  There seemed to be difficulty in persuading Gerent to let him return to our court, even for a day now.

Whereon I went to Ina and told him of this new trouble, and he bade me go.  He thought that some fresh plot was being hatched in Exeter, but both he and I wondered that the warning was not sent direct to my foster father, rather than in this roundabout way through my hands.  He said the same thing to me that Howel had spoken when I parted from him.

“These plotters will not think twice about striking at Owen through you, if it seems the only way to reach him.  And you mind that the princess told you to have a care for yourself.  Evan said that if strife was stirred up between us and Gerent they would be glad.  If they slew you, my Thane, it is likely that there would be trouble, unless Gerent is as wroth as I should be.”

So I went with a few guards and spent the day and night with Owen at Norton.  I knew it was the last chance I should have of seeing him for a long time, but we talked of the coming summer, promising ourselves that journey together to see Howel.  I told him how things went with Elfrida and me, and he did not seem to wonder much, nor to think it of any consequence.  He laughed at me, and told me to get over it as soon as I could, and that was all.